Future uncertain for 19th century jail in Yorkville

Yorkville officials are open to any ideas for the vacant 19th century Kendall County jail and sheriff's residence in the city.

"We have got to do something. It is just an eyesore. Either we raze it or an investor comes in from the private sector," Ald. Carlo Colosimo said.

Yorkville Mayor Gary Golinski said opportunities are "wide open" for anyone who wants to do something with the three-story building.

The Kendall County Sheriff's Office moved into a new county public safety facility in 1992 on Yorkville's west side. The city of Yorkville purchased the old jail building for $160,000 from Kendall County in 2010.

Aldermen last year commissioned Maryland-based EMG to assess the condition of its municipal properties, including the 5,000-square-foot old Kendall County jail, which was built in 1893.

The report rated the condition of the building as poor and in need of structural repairs.

Several studies would have to be done in order to further assess the condition of the property at 111 W. Madison St., including mold remediation and the integrity of the structural frame, according to the EMG documents.

According to the documents, there is "significant evidence of structural damage due to water intrusion in the central hallway on the first and second floors. This condition appears to affect the rafters, joists and studs in these areas as well as the floor and roof decking."

The report said a professional engineer with specific expertise in structural design and construction "must be retained to evaluate the structure and to provide remedial recommendations consistent with local regulatory and code requirements."

Aldermen were not supportive of allocating taxpayer funds to restore the building. However, they are open to ideas from the private sector.

Alderman Joel Frieders said the subject undoubtedly will bring out people adamant that there be efforts to "save the jail."

He said previous efforts to get private investors to restore the building for a museum or commercial enterprise did not work out.

"I am definitely open to opinions from the public," Frieders said. "I don't think the historical quality of the jail is something that the entire jail itself should be memorialized from funds dedicated to preserving (it). Let's hear some ideas but I am not too excited about actually doing it as property the city owns."

Colosimo said he would not be supportive of a taxpayer-funded project to renovate or convert the building into another use. He said the city's finances are tight as they are.

"If somebody were to come to us, but nobody has come to us and it has been sitting there for years. I would not put taxpayer money into the old jail," he said.

Ald. Chris Funkhouser said it is unfortunate the building has fallen into disrepair.

"I would like us to take one more stab at it to see if somebody wants the building," Funkhouser said.

The City Council agreed to forward the issue to the council's Administration Committee for further discussion.

City Administrator Bart Olson said the city can issue a request for proposals to signal the private sector that the city is "open to selling, leasing or repurposing" the old jail, but not with city funds.

Ald. Jackie Milschewski, chairwoman of the Administration Committee, would like to get residents involved in any effort to renovate the old jail.

"It would be nice if we could get a grass roots group started," she said.

When Kendall County owned the jail facility in 2004, there was talk about converting it into a museum or visitor center. A Yorkville investor in 2012 had plans to renovate the structure for use as commercial offices and a museum.

Former Yorkville Mayor Valerie Burd approached the City Council about saving the building.

She was a proponent to save the building during her administration. Burd served as mayor from 2007 to 2011. She previously was on the City Council from 1998 to 2007.

"We had the same discussion with the old Kendall County Courthouse," Burd said of that restored facility.

She told aldermen the historic buildings distinguish Yorkville from neighboring communities. She suggested the city consider leasing the old jail and letting the private sector make improvements.

Lisa DiChiera, director of advocacy at Landmarks Illinois, said she was recently made aware of the city's plans to possibly demolish the building.

"Our organization is willing to provide assistance toward assessing the building's current condition and stabilization needs, and hope we can work with city officials to find a preservation solution," DiChiera told The Beacon-News.

DiChiera said the old jail is one of only three surviving structures in Yorkville included in a 1974 "Inventory of Historic Landmarks in Kendall County." She said Landmarks Illinois in 2003 listed the building on its annual list of Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois.